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TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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Sdmoes 

Carporation 


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WIMm,N.V.  HSM 
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CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CSHIVI/ICIVIH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Inttituta  for  Historical  IMIcroraproductiont  /  Inatitut  Canadian  da  microraproduc  'ons  historiquas 


J 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Motes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


The  institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  off  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliographically  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


D 


D 


D 
D 


D 


D 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  i^e  couleur 


I      I    Covers  damaged/ 


Couverture  endommagde 


Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaur^  et/ou  peiiicuf^e 


I      I    Cover  title  missing/ 


Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 


I      !    Coloured  maps/ 


Cartes  gdographiques  en  couleur 


□    Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 

I     I   Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 


Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 

Bound  with  other  material/ 
Relii  avec  d  jsutres  documents 

Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  re  Hure  serr^e  peut  causer  da  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distortion  le  long  de  la  marge  intirieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajoutAes 
lors  d'une  restauration  upparaissent  dans  le  texts, 
mais.  lorsque  cela  etait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  6ti  film^es. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  suppl^mentaires; 


L'Institut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  6t6  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-Atre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique.  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite.  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  m6thode  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiqu6s  ci-dessous. 


I      I    Coloured  pages/ 


Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommag^es 

Pages  restored  and/oi 

Pages  restaur6es  et/ou  pellicul6es 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  ffoxe« 
Pages  d4color6es,  tacheties  ou  piqu6es 

Pages  detached/ 
Pages  ddtachees 

Showthrough/ 
Transparence 

Quality  off  prir 

Qualite  indgale  de  I'impression 

Includes  supplementary  mateiii 
Comprend  du  materiel  supplimentaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Mition  disponible 


I      I  Pages  damaged/ 

r~71  Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 

r~y|  Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  ffoxed/ 

I      I  Pages  detached/ 

0  Showthrough/ 
Tr 

I      I  Quality  off  print  varies/ 

I      I  Includes  supplementary  mateiial/ 

I      I  Only  edition  available/ 


T» 
to 


Tl 

P< 
of 
fil 


Oi 
b« 
th 
sit 
ot 
fil 
si( 
or 


T» 
sh 
Tl 
wl 

M 
dil 
en 
bi 
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rei 
mi 


D 


Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  fo 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  4t6  ffilmAes  A  nouveau  de  fapon  A 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


This  item  is  ffilmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checheo  below/ 

Ce  document  est  film*  au  taux  de  rMu^tlon  indlquA  ci-dessous. 


10X 

14X 

18X 

22X 

2iX 

30X 

X 

12X 

lex 

aox 

24X 

28X 

32X 

The  copy  filmad  h«re  hat  b««n  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  ganarotity  of: 

Library  of  the  Public 
Archives  of  Canada 


L'exampiaira  film*  fut  reprodult  grAce  A  la 
gAnArositA  da: 

La  bibliothAque  des  Archives 
publiques  du  Canada 


The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quaiity 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  lagibility 
of  the  original  copy  end  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract    pacifications. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covera  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  whan  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


Les  images  suivantei*  ont  At*  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soiii,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  nattet*  de  I'exempleire  film*,  tit  en 
conformit6  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 

Les  exemplaires  originauK  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  eat  imprimte  sont  filmfo  en  commen^ant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminent  soit  par  la 
dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'iilustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  salon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  filmte  en  commenpant  par  la 
premiAre  page  qui  comporte  uno  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'iilustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  ttie  symbol  -^^  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  Y  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaftra  sur  la 
derniire  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbols  — ►  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  ie 
symbols  V  signifie  "FIN". 


Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Thoss  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  expoaure  era  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  aa  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
metho'i: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc..  peuvont  Atre 
filmte  A  des  taux  de  rMuction  diff Arents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  Atre 
reprodult  en  un  seul  clichA,  il  est  film*  A  partir 
de  I'angle  supArieur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  has,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  nicessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrant  la  mAthoda. 


1 

2 

' 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

A  SKETCH 


OF    TlIK 


BUXTON  MISSION 


AMI 


ELGIN  SETTLEMENT 


KALKMUI 


CAT^ADA    AVI:^S1 


.1.    S.    WILSON.    I'lilN  I 


lill!\llN«il!AM 

I'l!   ANI>  LAW  srAH<>Nl.H..    ANN   MIIKKT. 


/  ^ 


^  ^'  z  i?^ 

Of     «^    »   >' 


A     SKETCH 

or    TIIK 

BUXTON  MISSION  &  ELGIN  SETTLEMENT, 

KALEKJH, 
CJAN^VDA    AVJilST. 


1'he  Bnxtdii,  or,  us  if  is  sometimes  ciillcd,  the  Elgin  Settlement,  in 
sitnated  in  the  to\vn^hi|)  of  Uiileigh,  county  Kent,  ("imiidu  West, 
iihoiit  eight  miles  soiith-eiist  of  ('hiithiun,  which  is  :i  station  on  the 
Great  Western  Railway.  It  lies  l>et\veen  tlie  livt'i'l'linmes  .ind  Lake 
Erie,  and  at  present  ctjvers  uhont  eiglileen  sijuare  miles  of  country, 
embracing,!  iiopidatioii  of  over  1,2(M)  persons. 

It  was  formed  '>y  the  Itev.  William  King,  in  the  year  184'J,  witha 
view  to  the  social  and  moral  improvement  of  the  colored  population 
of  Canada.  'I'lu'  circumstiiuccs  whi.'li  led  in  its  foruKition  were  these: 
Mr.  Kmg,  a  native  of  l>i  ndondeiry,  Ireland,  had  come  ovi'r  when  a 
youth  to  the  I'nited  States,  and  hiid  tix.'d  his  I'esidenee  in  I.niusiiina. 
where  during  some  years  he  occupied  an  inllueiitial  position  in  con- 
i.ection  with  the  Ijouisiana  College  at  Jackson.  Here  he  a.ssoiMatod 
and  mingled  tVrely  with  the  first  taiuilies  in  the  Statt,  and  lierunie 
familiarly  acipiainted  with  their  ])eculiar  institutions  Holding 
strongly  to  the  princl[)le  that  personal  freedom  is  the  iidierent  and 
inalienable  right  of  every  man,  and  not  hesitating  on  suitable  occa- 
sions to  acknowledge  this  view,  he  nevertheless  avoided  such  rasii 
words  and  acts  as  would  have  caused  him  at  once  to  forfeit  the  con- 
fidence of  those  amongst  whom  he  dwelt  ;  a;id  meantime  he  used 
his  favorable  stand  point  to  midce  himself  familiar  with  the  strongest 
arguments  thai  could  be  brougiit  forv.ard  in  favor  of  Slavery,  with 
the  hnvs  of  the  couuMy  respecting  it.  with  its  political  and  social 


\viirkiu,i.MUi(l  with  rhv  oliariutir  ami  capabilities  of  the  colorerl  man, 
in  order  that  no  knuwledgo  of  the  strength  of  the  system  should  be 
wanting  to  liim  when  the  antiei])ated  time  should  arrive  for  action. 

Believing  Slavery  tu  be  a  great  moral  and  social  evil,  at  variance 
with  the  laws  of  (Jud,  and  opposed  to  the  pure  precepts  of  the  (Jos- 
pel,  he  pent  i\td  that  it  was  fast  huiTying  to  destruction  the  people 
bv  wlioui  it  was  maintained.  He  was  further  convinced  that  li,  was 
impossible,  while  living  in  the  midst  of  it,  to  brmg  up  his  family 
free  from  its  contaminating  inlluences  :  lie  therefore  determined, 
whatever  sacrifices  it  should  cost  him,  to  free  himself  from  itstram- 
mels,  and  to  separate  himself  entirely  from  it.  In  consequence 
however  of  legal  ditHculties,  this  resolution  coidd  not  be  carried  into 
innnediate  execution.  He  therefore,  witli  a  view  to  its  furtheranc(3, 
purchased  a  phmtation,  on  whicli  he  ])laced  his  slaves,  giving  them 
tlic  ]iro(.eeds  of  tlieir  own  laiior,  until  the  time  should  (•i)me  that 
would  enable  ium  to  .set  them  five  ;  thus  developing  in  them  the 
spirit  of  self-reliance,  and  training  them  for  the  exercise  of  the  du- 
ties of  the  state  offreedou)  in  which  he  purj)osed  to  place  them. 

The  legal  dilhculties  which  had  hitherto  stood  in  his  way  having 
been  overcome,  he  sold  his  ])lantation,  and  in  .\pril,  1848,  removed 
the  slaves,  tiftcen  in  uund)er,  to  Canada,  and  Micre  gave  them  tlicir 
freedom;  these  settliu'.:-  aroiuni  him  liecanie  the  nucleus  of  the  Elgin 
Settlement.  n<iw  c<.vciiug  so  large  a  sp.ice. 

Shortly  alter  the  passing  of  the  Fugitive  Slave  Bill  which  deprived 
the  Slave  refugees  of  all  safety  in  the  United  States,  a  general  move- 
ment was  made  by  them  towaids  l'pi'<-''  Canada,  '["his  sudden  ac- 
cession roused  the  latent  jealousy  of  the  white  settlers  into  active 
hostility,  whiv-l»  was  just  at  its  height  wiieu  .\Ir.  King  arrived  with 
his  charge.  .Vnimated  by  a  noble  Christian  philanthropy  which  led 
him  to  regard  these  oiitca.stsas  men  \md  lirethren,  he  had  previously 
designed  a  plan  lor  the  amelioration  of  tiieir  social  condition,  and 
the  elevation  of  their  moral  and  intellectual  character,  which  con- 
sisted in  providing  the  adults  with  a  home,  and  the  youtii  with  the 
means  of  ( 'lir-istiau  ediuation.  by  forming  a  set tieuient  in  whieh  land 


A 


sliould  be  granted  to  tliein  on  easy  tenua,  and  provision  niiide  for 
their  spiritual  wants  as  well  as  their  mental  development. 

The  rumour  of  Mr.  King's  design  having  preeedcd  him,  he  en- 
countered on  entering  the  Province  the  most  A'iolent  opposition, 
(."ombinations  were  formed,  in  which  the  parties  swore  to  take  his 
life  if  he  should  show  himself  in  their  vicinity;  threatening  letters 
were  sent  to  him  expressing  furious  indignation  at  his  project,  and 
a  public  meeting  from  three  counties  was  convened  by  the  sheriff, 
to  influence  popidur  feeling,  in  order  to  prevent  him  from  carrying 
his  design  into  effect.  Only  one  man  was  found  to  lift  up  his  voice 
in  that  assembly,  professing  to  give  a  home  in  their  midst  to  the 
M'anderer ! 

A  committee  was  appointed  to  watch  his  proceedings,  and  peti- 
tions, numerously  and  influcntially  signed,  were  sent  to  the  Com- 
missioner of  ( Jrovi'n  Lands  earnestly  demanding  that  no  grant  should 
on  iuiy  consideration  be  made  for  his  purpose.  A  less  resolute  spirit 
must  have  retired  before  such  obstacles,  but  Mr.  King,  assured  of 
the  rigliteousness  of  his  cause,  gathered  new  stimulus  from  difficulty, 
and  securing  the  co-operation  of  Lord  Elgin,  then  Governor  ( Jeneral 
of  Canada,  succi^eded  in  carr\'ing  his  point,  and  thus  savtnl  Britain 
from  the  disgrace  of  refusing  that  asyliun  to  the  outcast  which  it 
has  long  been  her  glory  to  afford.  A  grant  was  made  of  a  tract  of 
land  which  had  heen  selected  and  ajjprovcd  by  com[)L'tent  judges, 
and  which  practical  men,  interested  in  the  scheme,  pronounced  one 
of  tlie  most  desirable  in  the  Province. 

Mr.  King,  with  his  assistants,  immediately  set  about  surveying 
and  laying  off  the  nine  thousand  acres  of  which  the  grant  consisted, 
into  lots  (/f  fifty  acres  ei\ch. 

it  was  in  December,  IJ^-ID,  that  Mr.  King,  who  had  been  imani- 
mously  appointed  agent  of  the  lOlgin  Association,  ti.xed  his  residence 
on  the  settlement,  to  which  the  name  of  "liuxton"  was  given  in 
honor  of  tliat  friend  of  humanity,  Sir  T.  F.  Buxton.  Mr.  King's 
house,  which  stands  some  way  back  from  the  middle  road  running 
ea,st  and  west  througli  the  southern  part  of  the  settlement,  had  been 


built  and  occupied  for  several  yeurs  by  a  white  settler.  It  is  a  long 
lew  building  of  log,  and  was  at  first  i>f  most  unpretending  appear- 
ance, but  buildings  which  were  fur  a  while  used  as  a  church  and  solwtol 
house  have  since  been  incorporated  in  tiie  dwelling  house;  and  a 
gallery  in  front  shaded  by  luxuriant  grape  vines,  a  belfry  rising  high 
above  the  house,  the  erection  of  a  handsome  barn  and  outbiuldings 
at  the  rear,  together  with  the  long  avenue  of  siiade  trees  leading  up 
from  the  road,  and  the  tasteful  white  fences  with  which  the  premi8e;j 
are  enclosed,  have  contributed  to  give  to  the  whole,  when  seen 
against  the  brilliant  blue  sky  and  embosomed  in  the  rich  gi-een 
loliage  of  a  <-'unadian  suuuner,  a  i)ictures(pie  and  charming  aspect. 
More  recently  a  church,  ischool-house  and  post-office  have  been  put 
up  on  the  piemises,  immediately  fronting  the  main  road  ;  these  are 
likewise  of  log,  yet  they  have  about  them  a  degree  of  rustic  beauty, 
thoxigh  they  are  designed  shortly  to  be  succeeded  by  more  prerna- 
ment  structures. 

In  a  very  short  time  a  I'umber  of  the  fifty  acre  lots  were  disposed 
of  to  actual  settlers  at  two  dollars  and  a  half  ])er  acre,  to  be  paid  in 
ten  equal  annual  instalments  with  interest  ;  the  whole  being  paiil 
up,  the  settler  to  receive  a  title  to  the  land  in  fee  simple.  These 
terms  imve  been  fuliilled,  and  the  settlers  have  received  their  deeds. 
It  Wiis  also  reipiired  that  each  settler,  on  entering  his  lot,  should 
immediately  put  up  a  house,  not  inferior  to  a  prescrii)cd  model, 
^vhich  was  of  log,  twenty-four  feet  long,  by  eighteen  feet  wide,  and 
twelve  high,  to  be  set  back  thirty-tiu-ee  feet  from  the  road,  and  en- 
closed in  front  with  a  picket  fence.  Any  who  wished  were  at  liberty 
to  make  their  houses  as  nuicli  larger  and  i)etter  as  they  cliose,  and 
in  many  cases  did  so.  Some  came  in  with  nothing  but  their  strong 
right  arm  to  help  them ;  others  liad  acquired  a  little  j^i'operty,  and 
commenced  at  a  much  greater  advantage  ;  the  former  had,  in  a 
literal  sense,  "to  take  their  bread  out  of  a  stump,"  and  hard  enougii 
their  work  proved.  The  land  Wiis  heavily  timbered  with  elm,  hick- 
ory, oak,  maple  and  ash,  which  nuist  be  hewn  down,  consumed,  and 
the  la'ushwuod  cleared  mit  liefore  an  ear  of  corn   could   1)0   raised. 


ir- 

...1 

a 


n 

'U 


Tliu  liiiul  heiii^  lovcl  uiul  the  soil  clayey,  it  was  nocrssary  to  (»i)OU 
nuuieri)ii«  ditclius  in  order  to  carry  uit'  the  water  to  tlie  creeks, 
wliich,  when  properly  kept  open,  sui)ply  sutiicieut  drainage. 

The  parallel  roads  or  conces^'ions  which  intei*sect  the  settlement 
at  intervals  of  200  acres,  existed  only  on  the  charts,  avid  the  tower- 
iiif,'  giants  of  the  forest,  who  had  so  long  held  undisturbed  possession, 
would  not  yield  an  inch  exccjit  to  the  fatal  stroke  of  the  axe.  'I'he 
ditticultics  were  indeed  great,  each  man  however  understood,  on 
coming  in,  that  all  he  was  to  receive  was  the  opportunity  to  make 
a  home  and  aequire  independence — "work  or  sink"  was  the  motto — 
and  results  abundantly  testify  that  almost  all  adopted  the  former 
alternative. 

Meanwhile,  in  furtherance  of  the  moral  interests  of  the  settlers,  a 
mission  was  formed,  sui)ported  by  the  "  Canada  Presbyterian  Free 
Church,"  and  Mr.  King,  being  a  minister  in  that  body,  was  appointed 
to  the  charge.  Schools  were  opened  in  which,  in  addition  to  the 
ordinary  branches  taught  in  the  connnon  schools,  opportunities 
were  atloided  for  acipiiring  a  knowledge  of  the  classics,  and  higher 
branches  of  literature,  to  such  as  might  aspire  to  the  professional  or 
scientific  walks  of  life.  Three  other  school-houses  have  since  been 
erected  in  the  nio.'e  remote  parts  of  tlie  settleujient,  which  are  con- 
ducted on  the  connnon  school  system  of  the  country,  so  that  there 
arc  now  four  schools,  with  an  attendance  of  three  hundred  scholai's. 
Two  hundred  of  these  attend  the  KSabbath  schools.  Seven  hundred 
have  already  jjassed  through  the  mission  school,  and  received  a  good 
common  education,  whilst  others  have  been  trained  as  teachers  ami 
ai'c  now  occupying  important  posts  both  in  Canada  and  the  States. 
Ctne  of  the  former  pupils  is  teaching  in  the  City  of  Washington, 
another  in  Chatham,  Cana<la  West.  Two  others  are  engaged  as 
Surgeons  in  the  hospital  at  Washington,  and  another  has  nearly 
(•,om[ileted  his  Collegiate  course  at  Torontu.  The  schools  are  now- 
all  self-su})portiiig  :  the  settlers  have  subscribed  this  year  (18G(j) 
one  thousand  dollars  for  educational  pur^joses,  besides  four  hundred 
dollars  which  luui  been  raised  towards  the  erection  of  a  brick  school 


Iioiise  in  the  village  of  Biixt  mi.  The  church  in  goufl  weiither  is  well 
iittcnded,  and  a  hirge  number  of  tlie  hearers  are  chxu'ch  nunnbers  ; 
tho  Sabliath  hcIuidI  opens  ininiediately  after  the  mornini;  service,  at 
which  time  also  Mr.  Kin<j;  conducts  a  Bililc  class  for  the  adults  at 
his  own  house.  Libraries  have  been  jirovided  for  tlie  use  both  of 
the  schools  and  the  conj^'regation. 

The  Methodist  and  Haptist  forms  of  worshiii,  in  which  more  free- 
dom and  license  are  allowed  to  the  hearei's,  are  however  better 
suited  than  Prcsbyterianism  to  the  impulsive  and  demonstrative 
feolinj,'S  of  the  African.  A  large  majority  therefore  ai'e  attached  to 
these  denominations;  and,  as  ])erfect  liberty  has  been  afforded  them, 
they  have  erected  churches  of  their  own  ;  and  a  very  larire  propor- 
tion of  the  popnlati;Mi  aie  to  be  foimd  every  Sabbath  day  attending 
some  place  of  worship. 

Settlers  continued  from  the  first  to  come  in  every  year.  In  1855 
a  pood  saw  and  grist  mill  was  jiut  up  in  Buxton,  by  means  of  which 
abundance  of  excellent  timber  was  sup])lie('.,  so  that  the  erection  of 
good  h(»uses  proceeded  more  rapidly  than  before,  in  the  ensuing 
year  a  brick  yard  and  pearlash  factory  were  added ;  likewi.se  a  store, 
a  two-sturv  brick  hotel  and  a  good  frame  house,  ii'tended  for  a 
prixate  lK)arding  house  ;  and  a  new  bi-anch  of  industry  was  opened, 
which  has  already  proved  of  the  greatest  possible  advantage.  This 
is  the  making  of  black  salts,  which  are  prepared  from  the  iishes  of 
varioii.s  kinds  of  timber,  and  arc  afterwards  disjioscd  of  to  the  man- 
ufacturers of  p  >t  and  pearlash.  The  only  exj)ense  inciUTcd  is  the 
purchase  of  the  large  kettle  tor  boiling.  By  tlii.s  means  also  the 
work  of  clearing  the  land  has  been  greatly  stinudated,  and  vast 
quantities  of  wood,  w  liich  nuist  otherwise  have  lieen  utterly  wasted, 
have  been  converted  into  an  article  of  high  commercial  value,  and 
become  a  valuable  source  of  wealth  ^)  the  community. 

Indoors,  many  are  engaged  in  prei)arin'4  and  spinning  flax  and 
wool  fur  garments,  and  theu  is  no  doubt  that  this  most  desirable 
liranch  of  industry  will  shortly  be  practised  to  a  much  greater  ex- 
tent.    The  hindrance  hitherto  hiis  been  the  impossibility  ui'  rai.sing 


9 


ah'ep  on  dniiip  or  newly- cleared  jiuids.  This  obativcle  is  becoming 
k'Hi-  every  yesir,  and  we  have  good  hopes  of  seeing  in  a  few  years  the 
f  veiy-day  garl)  of  the  connuiinity  entirely  of  their  own  manufacture. 
The  land  on  the  older  clearings  is  already  lit  for  raising  flax  and 
tobacco.  Scviral  of  the  settlers  are  well  accinainted  with  the  culti- 
vation of  these  jdants,  and  the  UKjde  of  preparing  them  for  use  or 
for  the  ni.irki.t,  and  are  proposin'4  to  devote  a  considerable  portion 
of  their  time  and  land  to  these  jmrjjoscs. 

From  its  eommeucement  till  the  present  time,  the  history  uf  the 
Bu.xton  si.'ttlement  has  been  one  of  gradual  advancement  in  all 
things  wliich  constitute  the  prosperity  of  an  agricultural  people; 
yet,  like  all  similar  movements,  it  has  liad  its  tluctiiations.  The 
zeal  and  enthusiasm  with  wliicii  many  at  first  entered  upon  their 
arduous  i)ut  hopeful  task,  gave  way  lor  a  tim-.'  ln'f'on'  the  eoniiiiu- 
ance  ot  severe  lalior,  unaceonrjanicd  l)y  present  rc(piital,  tlicso 
persons  leaving  their  farms  and  going  el.scrt'iiere  to  .seek  employment; 
of  coun-.e,  their  ov.n  l.aids  were  nej:le('ted,  or  nearly  so,  and  it  is 
obvious  tiiat  such  neglect  would  be  injurious  in  an  unopened  r  imtry 
not  only  to  the  interests  of  the  individual,  but  also  to  those  of  his 
neighbours.  Two  or  tiu-ee  years'  desidtory  labour,  which,  though 
for  the  present  more  remunerative,  did  uot  advance  their  ]>ernianeut 
interests,  servi'd  to  sliow  uiost  ol'tiiem  their  erroi-,  and  tliey  returned 
to  liuxton  witli  rviiewed  deteriuination  to  persevere  in  tlu'  woik, 
which,  though  bai'reu  aud  tnilisonie  at  lirst,  was  a  sure  road  to  inile- 
pondeuee  and  plenty. 

(n  IS")?,  the  KIgin  .settlement  was  honoured  witli  a  visit  from 
Lord  AlthorjK',  now  Ivirl  Spencer,  in  company  with  several  other 
gentlemen.  Besides  calling  on  some  of  the  .settlers,  and  witnessing 
the  cimditiou  of  tla-ir  hou.ses  and  fanus,  lie  iuid  the  opportimity  of 
seeing  them  gathered  together  on  the  t)Ccasioii,  when  a  lianquet — 
of  which  several  himdreds  partook — was  provided  iu  an  arbor 
erected  for  t!ie  jturpose  iu  a  grove  on  Mr.  King's  farm.  The  settlers 
and  their  distinguished  guests  were  mutually  delighted  with  the 
novel  scene.   >>i»-""e  that  time  similnr  festivals  have  been  held  on  the 


ID 


lirst  of  AiiL;ii.st  to  colebrato  Wewt  India  Einiinciiiiitiou.  Tlicso  occa- 
sions, oil  wliicli  the  (liiinor  is  fiirnishcil  l)y  tli(>  comumnity  fiom 
thfir  oit'v  prothice,  would  satisfy  the  eii(|iiinHg  stnuiiivr  tl:at  tlicn; 
was  no  sciircit}-  among  tlioni  of  tho  necessaries,  and  even  of  tlie 
inxnrios  of  the  faliK".  Turkeys,  fowls,  ducks,  roast  j)igs,  geese,  ven- 
ison, licef,  niiitt(.ii,  and  land),  load  the  hoard.  Wgetahles  of  all 
kinds,  licitiitocs,  [i-.usniiis,  |)e;is,  French  h  >anH,  asparagus,  <tc.,  witii 
pickles  and  lavstrvrs,  are  on  hand  :  whilst  rich  iced  cakes  and 
jiast ry,  in  various  forms,  disfilay  tiie  tiste  and  skill  in  cookery,  so 
chaniL'teiistic  of  tlie  race. 

i.nrd  .Althoipc  and  his  frienrls  were  hiirhly  satisfied  with  what 
fhcy  saw  of  tlie  jirosjierity  of  this  interesting  community  ;  and  the 
siuue  feeling  has  lieen  e.\|iii'ssed  iiy  numerous  other  intelligent 
visitors  to  iJiixtoii. 

Sixteen  yeii's  a;^ii,  when  Mr.  Kill;:  tirst  came  to  liiixton,  the  whole 
country  was  one  nnltiokcii  foi-i'st;  thi' wild  deer  and  the  wolf  ro<'uned 
unmolested  tlir<ie,L'.i  its  dark  solitudes.  Roads,  thi'i'o  were  none, 
with  the  exceptii  of  the  military  line  rnnning  from  Lonchni  to 
Sandwich  through  the  centre  of  the  peninsula-  laid  out  by  Colonel 
'I'alliut  after  the  war  with  the  United  States  in  1SI2,  and  settled  on 
each  side  with  liritisli  suhjects,  who  received  grants  of  100  ucri's 
eacli  oil  Condition  of  creciiii;.c  a  l.ig  cahin  and  clearing  a  certain 
jMiiiitui  of  land  'ii  I'ach  side  of  the  road.  .\t  the  present  time  up- 
wards of  "iOOd  acres  of  fTest  land  have  luen  i'|car<'d  and  laid  under 
(iiltivatic'ii.  'rw('iity-ti\('  miles  uf  road  have  lieeii  openeil  up  through 
the  settlement  in  various  directions,  the  same  extent  of  drainage  has 
;ilso  heen  completed,  icndering  the  whole  land  dry,  with  a  goixl  road 
to  eacli  farm. 

'I  wo  iiuiulivd  and  lifty  families  have  here  made  themselves  com- 
Initahle  holm  .>,  where  they  n.'>w  live  snpportim:  themselves  hv  tln'ir 
iiwn  industry.  In  \\\><>,\  of  tiiese  dwellings  the  family  altar  has  heen 
set  up,  wliriicc  the  Voice  of  praise  and  prayer  a.scends  from  griit(  fnl 
hearts  to  the  I'athi'i'  of  all  mercies.  It  is  satisfactory  also  tnhealtio 
tM  stati'  th.ii.  i.iiih  as  rc-ards  licallh  ami  m.i|-als,  the  settlement  will 


n 


hour  ftivoumlilo  ct>iiii)..i'isuu  with  aiiv  coiDiiimiitv  of  the  same  size. 
Nothing  thiit  iutoxitates  is  niKclo  or  sold  in  the  sttiknicut,  and 
drunkenness  is  a  crime  almost  unknown  among  the  settlers. 

Most  of  their  houses  have  been  put  up  ou  t'le  jires^rihed  model, 
hut  many  are  of  frame  which  have  a  nuu  li  laater  appeai'auee,  and 
are  capable  of  a  much  higher  degiee  of  fiuit^h,  l;esidcs  which  there 
arc  several  brick  houses,  the  bricks  for  Ashiih  were  niiide  at  the 
brick-yanl  in  Huxt(.n.  The  log  and  frame  houses  are  whitewashed  ; 
some  ai'e  shaded  with  gallercs  and  en  (ping  plants,  and  surrounded 
with' neat  fences  enclosing  tasteful  gardens. 

In  the  year  1862,  there  were  thrte  hunihc  d  acrts  m  wu  in  wheat.  ; 
six  hundred  in  Indian  corn  ;  two  hundred  in  oa\.i  ;  two  hundred 
and  fifty,  meadow;  about  four  hundred  weiv  devoted  to  potatoes, 
peas,  turnips,  buckwheat,  Sec.  ;  fourteen  to  toliaccn,  ar.l  sixteen  to 
flax.  Tiicre  were  owned  by  tlie  settlers,  -.nc  hundred  yoke  of  oxen 
(used  in  farming),  one  hundred  and  thiity  horses,  two  hundred  and 
fifty  milch  cows,  eighty  sheep,  and  hogs  without  numlier,  and  eveiy 
succeeding  year  hius  been  adding  to  the  wealth  of  the  settlei-s. 

Indoors,  their  homes  consist  of  a  large  room  with  a  j)lank  tluoi'  ; 
at  one  end  is  a  huge  chinmey,  where,  duiing  the  long  cold  winters, 
the  blazing  lugs  diU'iise  cheeii'ul  light  and  heat.  In  most  cases  a 
small  riicm  is  partitioned  oft"  for  a  sleejiing  apartment  ;  the  whole  is 
ceiled  with  boards,  and  the  si)ace  between  these  and  tin.'  shingled 
roof  is  aKo  divided  into  two  compartments  as  sleeping  lofts.  In  the 
moanest  of  these  dwellings  tlu'i'e  is  at  least  one  decent  liedstead,  a 
talile,  a  few  t.iairp,  iVc.  In  most,  these  conveniences  are  much 
mon  numerous,  and  some  of  the  better  houses  are  buili  (.•oiufortably 
and  neatly  funiished,  and  adorned  with  uay  prints;  and  happily 
there  is  no  fear  of  distraining  for  rent  cr  !iny  such  calamitv. 

The  natural  taste  of  the  c<. loured  race  for  nnis  .'  has  been  developeil 
and  cultiva*^ed  by  the  fovniation  of  singing  classes,  conducted  by  ojie 
of  themselves,  on  Ilullah's  vnca!  .system,  in  which  they  have  made 
very  creditabk' progress.  Twi^  niusiial  bands  liavi  been  funurd,  our 
in    conuectifU  with  the  nulitaiy  (in.iiHix  ;  the  itlur,  a  brass  baud. 


12 


for  festivji!  occasiuiis,  in  now  under  tiainiiig  by  agotitleman  of  much 
experience,  who  speaks  highly  of  their  progi'eps. 

AVrit-ng  in  Fobriiarv,  186t),  Mr.  King  says  :  "This  settlement  is 
a  standing  jjrotest  against  the  charges  brought  against  the  Negro, 
of  idleness  and  incapacity  to  manage  his  own  business.  Just  at 
tills  critical  period  in  the  reconstruction  of  the  slave  states,  and  the 
settlement  of  other  questions  connected  with  the  freedom  of  the 
si  ive,  it  is  well  that  we  have  at  le:ist  one  community  '<f  freed  men, 
of  whom  it  can  bo  said  tli  it  they  are  self-supporting  and  industrious. 
While  enjoying  all  the  riirhts  of  freemen,  they  are  well  behaved,  and 
exercise  tlieir  civil  riglits  with  as  much  judgment  as  any  (jther 
scttl'.rs  coming  into  the  province.  'I'n-day,  the  thermometer  stands 
tive  degrees  below  zero,  witli  snow  a  foot  deep,  and  yet  there  is  not 
ati  iil)lc-bodie(l  man  in  the  settlement  who  is  not  in  the  woods  with 
axe  and  crosscut  saw  miking  stave-  for  the  foreign  market,  and 
ttiking  saw  lo-,'s  to  the  mill.  There  is  a  high  price  for  timber  and 
sti'.ves  ;  this  is  the  motive  to  exerti<'U  and  all  are  busy.  The  n)ill 
this  yeur  will  deliver  .')O0,()(»0  feet  if  timber  at  the  end  of  the 
Centre  lioad,  which  is  now  c  )mpletcd  to  the  lake,  and  in  summer  is 
one  0*'  tiie  loveliest  drives  in  the  west.  From  the  middle  road  to  the 
lake  is  a  straiglu  wide  avenue,  with  the  primitive  forest  trees  of 
stately  growth  on  each  side  ;  at  the  ond  of  the  avenue  Lake  Erie 
bui-sts  up;)n  the  view  in  all  its  maji'sty.  The  opening  up  of  this 
ioad  has  give.i  a  new  impulse  to  the  industry  of  the  settlei-s,  iis  it 
has  given  them  a(;cess  to  a  ready  maiket  for  any  amount  of  staves, 
hrowood,  lumber.  A'c.  riie  settlement  never  has  been  in  a  more 
prosperous  condition  than  it  is  this  year." 


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J   S  tUSOH   DTK*  ad^lMN   S7     BIWM" 


